2016 Offensive NEP per play: 17th
2016 Defensive NEP per play: 12th

The San Diego Chargers are also not a bad team; they’re a team plagued by injuries. Another year on the trainer’s table has cost coach Mike McCoy his job, but it’s hard to win when you have a whopping 19 players on injured reserve.

Quarterback Philip Rivers has been just fine once again, coming in an exactly average 20th in Passing NEP per drop back among 39 qualifying quarterbacks. The breakout of rookie tight end Hunter Henry, who turned in the second-best Reception NEP per-target among 35 qualifying tight ends, has certainly helped, as has the emergence of running back Melvin Gordon. Gordon ended another year injured, but he posted the 26th-best Rushing NEP per attempt rate among 42 qualifying running backs -- an improvement from his horrid rookie season.

The defense is much-improved, as well, and will return budding shutdown cornerback Jason Verrett in 2017 opposite veteran stalwart Casey Hayward. Linebackers Denzel Perryman and Jatavis Brown turned in big seasons in the middle of the unit, and rookie defensive end Joey Bosa is a revelation. Truly, it was sheer bad luck that forced this team into the cellar of the AFC West in 2016. It’s a good roster with potential and few holes.

Likely Candidates: New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is the only known candidate as of now. The Chargers need to decide if they’re moving to Los Angeles for 2017 sooner rather than later, as that may impact coaches’ interest in the franchise.